STAND. COM. REP. NO. 623

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 610

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 610 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISASTER RELIEF,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Amend the Kauai flooding disaster relief appropriation made in Act 12, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, to include flood mitigation measures;

(2) Extend the lapse date of the appropriation to June 30, 2020; and

(3) Exempt the appropriation from certain restrictions on transfers of or changes to appropriations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and one member of the Kaua‘i County Council.

Your Committee finds that the Island of Kauai experienced historic flooding during 2018, and the recovery efforts are extensive and long term. Your Committee further finds that the Legislature appropriated monies for flooding disaster relief in Act 12, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018. Your Committee additionally finds that some flood recovery projects are still ongoing and scheduled for completion in June of this year. This measure will extend the emergency funding window for addressing Kauai's flood recovery and ensure that recovery projects that are currently in progress will be completed.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 610 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

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CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair